Bowling ball and adjustable diameter finger receiving attachment therefor



Dec. 17, 1968 R. M.GINDER 3,416,795

BOWLING BALL AND ADJUSTABLE DIAMETER FINGER RECEIVING ATTACH EFOR MENT THER Filed Oct. 20.

INVENTOR- United States Patent 3,416,796 BOWLING BALL AND ADJUSTABLE DIAMETER FINGER RECEIVING ATTACHMENT THEREFOR Raymond M. Ginder, 404 Sunset Drive, Salina, Kans. 67401 Filed Oct. 20, 1966, Ser. No. 588,137 Claims. (Cl. 273-63) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A cylindrical longitudinally-slotted finger-receiving insert is axially movable within a cylindrical sleeve secured in a bowling ball. When moved axially by a securing bolt passing through a closure member at one end of the insert and into the ball, tapered walls of the insert and sleeve coact to change the inner diameter of the insert without changing the angular relationship between the insert and its longitudinal axis. When the insert is removed from the ball, an enlargement in the insert slot permits the bolt to be slid into and out of a slot in the closure member communicating with the insert slot.

This invention relates to an insert for adjusting bowling ball holes wherein the inner diameter of the adjusted hole may be varied while maintaining the side walls Substantially straight in the form of a substantially right cylinder.

It is well known in the prior art to provide inserts and other means for adjusting the effective diameter of bowling ball holes. The importance of providing correct diameter bowling ball holes is well known and is of great importance for accurate control of the ball. The thumb and the finger should move smoothly in and out of the bowling ball hole but excessively large diameters must be avoided.

Bowling balls having correct size holes are provided in a number of ways. For example, bowling alleys conventionally carry a large supply of bowling balls having different hole sizes to accommodate the fingers and thumbs of the patrons. Individuals who frequently bowl usually buy their own bowling balls and have the holes drilled to conform to the particular dimensions of their fingers and thumbs. Neither of these solutions is entirely satisfactory. Insofar as the bowling alley operator is concerned, it is necessary for him to maintain an excessively large inventory of balls in order to accommodate a large variety of hand sizes of the clientele. Even where an individual has a bowling ball drilled to accommodate hls particular hand, changes may occur in the size of the individuals fingers and thumb, as for example with growth where the user is young, changes in the thumb and finger sizes due to calluses, changes in the gripping effect due to humidity, perspiration and temperature changes and the like. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide means for conveniently and instantaneously adjusting the sizes of holes in bowling balls to accommodate the particular operator and to compensate for changes in conditions, such as temperature, humidity and similar conditions.

A highly important object of the present invention is to accomplish such changes in the effective diameter of the bowling ball hole without substantially effecting the shape, and consequently the gripping effect, of the holes of the bowling ball hole.

A further important object of this invention is to provide an adjustable bowling ball hole unit where the walls of the adjustable hole are maintained substantially in the form of a right cylinder.

An addition, and highly important, concept of this invention is the provision of specific mechanisms and ice combinations for accomplishing the adjustment of the diameter of a bowling ball hole for maintaining the walls of the hole substantially in the form of a right cylinder.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the description which follows and from the drawings to which reference is now made.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a bowling ball showing the placement of the thumb and finger holes;

FIGURE 2 is an expanded view in cross section of the thumb hole of the bowling ball, taken as exemplary of the application of the adjusting device :of this invention, taken substantially along lines 2-2 in the direction of the arrows as shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a top cross-sectional view of the hole of FIGURE 2, taken substantially along lines 3-3 in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a side view of the cylindrical insert member of the bowling ball hole adjustment unit.

FIGURE 1 shows the bowling ball which may be of conventional style, size and composed of conventional materials incorporating the hole adjustment unit of this invention in the finger holes 12 and 14 and the thumb hole 16.

FIGURE 2 shows the side view in cross section of the thumb hole 16 including the hole adjustment unit of this invention. The hole adjustment unit comprises a cylindrical member 20 having outside walls 22, which preferably are in the form of a right cylinder being at all points equi-distant from the cylindrical axis, for fitting snugly into a bowling ball hole 16 of complementary size. Cylindrical member 20 has an inner wall 24 tapering outwardly from one end toward a larger inside diameter at the other end, said taper being at a predetermined angle relative to the cylindrical axis. In the preferred embodiment, as shown in FIGURE 1, the inner wall 24 of the cylindrical member tapers outwardly to a point spaced from the other end and has a substantially right cylindrical portion 26 extending from the point to the other end.

The insert for adjusting bowling ball holes also comprises a cylindrical insert 28 having a substantially right cylindrical inner wall 30. It is a highly important feature of this invention that the inner wall 30 remains parallel to the cylindrical axis at all times during adjustment and remains substantially in the form of a right cylinder, with respect to the cylindrical axis, at all times during the adjustment of the hole size. This is an important and distinguishing feature of the present invention. Cylindrical insert 28 is disposed coaxially inside the cylindrical member 20 and has an outer wall 24 tapering outwardly from one end toward a larger outside diameter at the other end at the same predetermined angle with respect to the cylindrical axis at which wall 24 tapers. The complementary tapering of walls 24 and 32 also forms an important distinguishing feature of the present invention. In the preferred embodiment, the outer wall of cylindrical insert 28 tapers outwardly to a point spaced from the other end as a substantially right cylindrical portion 34 extending from that point to the other end. Cylindrical insert 28 also has a longitudinal opening or slot 36 in the wall. This opening extends the length of the wall and permits the effective diameter of the substantially right cylinder formed by wall 30 to be variably adjusted. Also, in the preferred embodiment, although not absolutely essential to the invention, the cylindrical insert 28 is provided with a laterally extending opening 3-8 through the walls thereof at the other end, the function of which will be described hereinafter.

Cylindrical insert 28 is provided with a bottom closure 40 which has a slot extending therethrough from the side to the center for permitting the bottom closure to assume a variable effective diameter. The longitudinal opening in the wall and the slot in the bottom of cylindrical insert 28 communicate with each other to permit the effective diameter of the right cylinder formed by wall 30 to be varied. In the preferred embodiment, only one such slot in the bottom is required but, depending upon the materials of construction and the amount of adjustment desired or required, a plurality of slots extending inwardly from the sides of bottom closure 40 may be provided.

A bolt 42 having engageable means 44, preferably in the form of an enlarged head with a slotted boss thereon, extends through the slot and is provided with threads 46 for engagement with means such as a threaded hole 18 at the bottom of the bowling ball hole. Engaging means such as a washer 48 is provided on the bolt below the bottom closure for engaging the bottom closure and axially moving the cylindrical insert relative to the cylindrical member, when the linear engagement of bolt 42 relative to threaded hole 18 is variably adjusted, to thereby adjust the effective inside diameter of the cylindrical insert by increasing or decreasing the compressive force of tapered wall 24 on tapered wall 32.

A spacer 50 may also be provided in the hole to compensate for holes of variable depth.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description and drawings that when cylindrical insert 28 is moved axially with respect to cylindrical member 20 the inwardly compressive force exerted by the tapering wall 32 on the cornplementary tapering wall 24 will be varied. This axial movement may be effected by screwing bolt 42 inwardly or outwardly in threaded hole 18. Of course other linear adjusting means may be used. Since the side wall 30 is slotted and the bottom closure 40 is also slotted, the wall 30 remains substantially parallel at all points to the cylindrical axis of cylindrical member 20 and cylindrical insert 28. It will be apparent, therefore, that, aside from the change in effective diameter, the feel, the gripping effect, and the other features of the bowling ball hole will remain constant regardless of the diameter adjustment. This is a very significant and distinguishing feature of the present invention.

Another significant and distinguishing feature of the present invention is the ease with which the adjustment may be accomplished.

While lateral slot 38 is not absolutely essential to the present invention, in the sense that the effective diameter of both the bottom closure 40 and the cylinder formed by wall 30 may be varied, adjustment is made easier and wall 30 remains more cylindrical if lateral slot 38 is provided to permit adjustment of the effective diameter of the cylinder formed by wall 38 substantially independently of a change in effective diameter of bottom closure 40. Moreover, slot 38 may be of a convenient size to permit bolt 42 to be inserted into and removed from the slot through the bottom closure.

While this invention, in compliance with the statute, has been described in terms of a very specific exemplary embodiment, it will be realized that the inventive concept herein will encompass structures and mechanisms not specifically shown or described which perform equivalent functions, It is, therefore, intended that the scope of the invention be limited only by the following claims.

I claim:

1. An adjustable diameter finger receiving device insertable in a bowling ball, comprising: a cylindrical member having inner and outer diameters, said outer diameter being such that said member may fit snugly in a hole in a bowling ball, said inner diameter gradually increasing at a predetermined rate from one end of said member toward the other end of said member, a cylindrical insert disposed coaxially interiorly of said cylindrical member, said insert having inner and outer diameters, the outer diameter of said insert gradually increasing at a predetermined rate from one end of said insert toward the other end of said insert, the inner diameter of said insert being adapted to receive a finger of a bowlers hand, said predetermined rates of gradually increasing diameters being substantially the same, said gradually increasing outer diameter of said insert being positioned to engage said gradually increasing inner diameter of said cylindrical member, a slot in said insert extending throughout the length thereof from the inner to the outer diameter thereof, the other end of said insert having secured thereto a bottom member including a peripheral edge and a center portion, said bottom member having a slot extending therethrough from its peripheral edge to the center portion thereof, said slot in said insert being in communicating alignment with said slot in said bottom member, a bolt extending through the slot in the center portion of said bottom member and having means engageable with fastening means at the bottom of a hole in a bowling ball for causing said insert to move axially inward and outward of said cylindrical member so that said gradually increasing diameters of said cylindrical member and insert may be shifted into and out of compressive engagement and cause the width of said aligned slots to increase and decrease and thereby vary the effective inside diameter of said insert while the inside diameter of said insert remains substantially symmetrical along the length therein.

2. The adjustable device of claim 1 wherein:

the slot in the cylindrical insert is laterally enlarged adjacent the slot in the bottom member to permit the bolt to be slid into and out of the slot in the bottom member.

3. The adjustable device of claim 1 wherein:

the inner diameter of the cylindrical member tapers outwardly to a point spaced from the other end thereof and has substantially the diameter of a right cylinder from said point to the other end, and

the outer diameter of the cylindrical insert tapers outwardly to a point spaced from the other end thereof and has substantially the diameter of a right cylinder from said point to the other end.

4. The adjustable device of claim 3 wherein:

the slot in the cylindrical insert is laterally enlarged adjacent the slot in the bottom member to permit the bolt to he slid into and out of the slot in the bottom member.

5. In combination:

a bowling bali having at least one hole therein, a circular wall defining a cylindrical sleeve secured within said hole, another circular wall defining a cylindrical finger receiving insert secured within the sleeve, means for moving the insert axially into and out of the sleeve, means responsive to axial movement of said sleeve into or out of said sleeve for changing the inside diameter of the insert without changing the angular relationship between the circular wall defining the insert and the longitudinal axis of said insert.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,021,490 3/1912 Scully 27363 2,210,528 8/1940 Darby 273-63 2,435,327 2/1948 Seurynck 273--63 3,004,762 10/1961 Frost 27363 ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

70 GEORGE J. MARLO, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 33l74 

